“From the beginning of the game (G-D) was shooting the puck from everywhere,” Wickelman said. “And I learned quick that you need to be ready at all times. I knew they were good and were going to bring it but I needed to come out and be ready to play. This win feels good but we have another one (today vs. Hudson at DCU Center) so we have to move on and get ready for that one.”

Groton-Dunstable, which won the Division 3A state title last year and moved into Division 3 this year, came out fast and peppered Wickelman with numerous shots early, but couldn't solve the junior despite holding a 15-5 shot advantage.

“Ben was spectacular tonight,” Marlboro coach Mike O'Brien said. “He stole this game for us. In that first period alone we could've been easily down 4 or 5 nothing. Groton-Dunstable is a big, strong and fast team. I think some of our guys were caught off-guard in how physical and fast they were.”

The Crusaders (7-1-1) finally got one past Wickelman 4:01 into the second period, as junior defenseman Anthony Resca blasted a shot from the right circle that found its way through traffic past Wickelman for a shorthanded goal.

However Marlboro (6-2) answered on the power play at the 9:45 mark when Jake Chiasson poked a loose puck past Jason Robes (18 saves). With just over a minute remaining in the frame, the Panthers gained control inside the G-D blue line and forced a 2-on-1 opportunity, which allowed senior Steve Lampedecchio to take a feed from Andrew LeBlanc and beat Robes to make it 2-1.

“As the game went on I thought we settled down and I'm very happy with this win,” O'Brien said. “All three of their lines play a very fast and strong style of game. It took us a little while to adjust to what they were doing. In regards to Steve, he has been more of a penalty kill type of guy in the past but this year he's scoring goals. He's been one of our better guys this year.”

Groton-Dunstable controlled the flow in the final period, but despite crashing the net numerous times the Crusaders couldn't solve Wickelman. “Their goalie came up big,” first-year Crusaders coach Phil Rowley said. “Our inability to finish and stay out of the penalty box killed us.”